Apparatus for making hollow plastic articles



Sept, M, 194@ c. SCHEUER APPARATUS FOR MAKING HOLLOW PLASTIC ARTICLS Filed March 24, 1947 Patented Sept. 14, 1948 APPARATUS Foa MAKING noLLoW PLASTIC ARTICLES Clemens Scheuer, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application March 24, 1947, Serial No. 736,753

3 claims. (ci. 181-19) This invention relates to an apparatus. for therewith producing hollow articles consisting of plastic material, and particularly for manufacturing of such material human forms as used `in stores in connection with displaying wearable merchandise.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the aforesaid purpose, wherewith said form-s may be made with ease, convenience, relative rapidity, Without requiring undue skill, and which forms will be strong, eilicient, perfect, and saleable at low cost.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. l is a plan view of the apparatus of the invention, and showing parts thereof in crosssection and the upper member `of its mold removed, for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the mold forming a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational end view showing a portion of the apparatus, as seen at arrows 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is` a cross-sectional elevational view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 isan elevational end View showing a portion of the apparatus, as seen at arrows 5-5 in Fig. 1. I

Fig 6 is a perspective View illustrative of the type of` human form which is produced by the method and apparatus of the invention.

Figs. '7 and 8 are an elevational and end view respectively ofa plastic tube, from which material the form illustrated in Fig. 6 is made by the invention.

The apparatus I, Fig. 1, includes a mold 2, Fig. 2, comprising a lower half member 3 and upper half member 4, the formerhaving legs 5 for supporting the mold upon any desired table or base 6. Both members 3, 4 are provided with series of cooling ns l, cooperating flanges 8 with registering hole-s 9 and taps I8, and winged bolts II which pass through said holes and taps for rmly securing the members to each other. The member 4 is also preferably provided with a series of projecting pins I2 that are insertible into registering holes I3 in member 3, for conveniently aligning the members prior to securing them with the bolts II. The mold members 3, 4 are made of any suitable metal having cavities 3a, 4a cor responding to the human form I4, Fig. 6, to be fabricated, and are provided with open necks I5, I6 at their ends, Fig. l.

The apparatus I includes a device I1, Fig. 1,

l having a cap I8 which is registrable with and `closable of the neck I'5 of mold 2. Located within the cap I8 is a block I9 forming part of a shank 26 overrwhich `is threadable as shown a winged nut 2l, and secured to and passing through said shank is a cluster of pipes 22, 23, 24, 25, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4. Leftwardly from the shank 20, as seen in Fig. l, the said pipes branch out into a nest 26 in which they are provided with individual valves 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a, and from said nest they converge again into a clu-ster 21 secured to and passing through a tting 28 connectable by a union 29 to a pipe line 38. Said line is provided with a valve 3l and connected by a T 32 to a steam line 33 having a valve 34 and a com-,- pressed air line 35 having a valve 36. When the device II is inthe condition illustrated in Fig. 1,

relatively to the mold 2, its pipes 22, 23, 24, 25.

project rightwardly from the shank 20 into the mold as shown, the pipe 22 terminating in spouts 221) having openings 22o situated in the region and direction of the shoulders I4a of form I4 of the mold cavities. Similarly, the pipe 23 terminates in spouts 23h with openings 23e .in the region and toward the direction of the breasts I4b of form I4, the pipe 24 has terminating spouts 24h with openings Y24e in the region and direction of the hips I4c of said form, and the pipe 25 has spouts 25h terminating in openings 25C in the region and direction of the legs I4d of the form.

The apparatus I includes a device 31, Figs. 1 5, having a cap 38 which is registrable with and `closalcle of the neck` I6 of mold 2.V Located within the cap 38 is a block 39 forming part of a shank 40 over which is threadable as shown a winged nut 4 I, and said shank carries a valve 42 for closing and openinga clear through outletbore 43 of the shank and the block 39.

The human form I4, Fig. 6, as made by the apparatu-s of this invention, is of plastic material known commercially .as Lucite and technically designated methyl methacryla'te, and is 'initially in the form of `a tubing 44, Figs. 7, 8 of predetermined length. Preparatory to the actual blowing process with the apparatus I, Several of its parts together with :the tubing 44 are assembled a-s iollows: Firstly, the tubing 44 is preheated so as to softenits material. Then, the entire device I1, in condition separated from the mold 2 and the union 29, is joined to the tubing 44 in the relation illustrated in Fig. 1, i. e., the pipes 22-25 with their spouts 22h-25h are inserted within the tubing and the block I9 is located within the end .portion thereof. Thereupon, the softened end :portion of tubing 44 is formed t'aperingly over the frusto-conical block I9 as shown in Fig'. 1 as a frustum 44a with a rim 44h, the cap I8 and nut 2| having previously been slid away backwardly to permit this work. The cap IIB is then sl-id forwardly over said frustum and rim and the nut 2| is Ithreaded tightly `against the cap, in which manner the entire device I1 is rmly secured to the tubing 44. By precisely similar means the entire device 31 is likewise joined to the opposite end of the tubing 44, as illustrated in Fig.` 1. The devices l1, 31 with the tubing 44 having been thus assembled as a unit, the latter is placed in the lower member 3 of the mold 2, with the end portions of the tubing 4d resting in the yhalf-necks l5, |16 thereof. The fitting 2S is then connected to the line 30 by the union 29, the upper mold member 4 is placed upon the lowei1 member 3, a-llof the bolts I I are then tightened, and the entire apparatus l, with its valves 23a-25a set in closed state, is thus rendered ready for the blowing process. Just previous to insertion of the assembled unit into 'the mold 2, the tubing 45 thereof is reheated to con dition it for the blowing.

For vcarrying out this Vblowing process, the line 30 furnishes a steady supply of steam at 75 lbs. pressure, the line 35 supplies compressed air at 75 lbs., while .the valve 3| of connecting line 30 may be set to feed said fluids at varying pressures to lthe apparatus l-. For commencing the blowing, the valves 3l, 3% `and thevalves 22a-25a are ini tiallyclosed, and then Ithe valve 3| is opened to feed the steam at a pressure of 35 lbs. Thereupon, the valve 23a is opened, and the steam emanating from .the outlets 23o linitially expands the tubing 44 in the breast region |4b of the mold cavity to approximately the dash and dot line in Fig. 2. The valves 22a, 24a, 25a are then opened consecutively at and for one-half minute intervals and duration, which simil-arly expands initially the tubing 4G in the regions |4a, I4c, 14d to the dash and dot lines in Fig. 1 respectively. The operating valve 3l is thereupon opened up to feed the full 75 lbs. steam pressure for a dura-tion of two minutes, which Ycontinues and completes the said expansions of the tubing material for `effi ciently `and tightly filling the entire mold. Throughout fthe said expansions of the plastic material the air of the mold cavity escapes through vents 45 thereof. The steam valve 34 is then closed and the air valve 36 opened to admit the compressed air through 'the valves 3|, 22a-25a, and outlets 22o-25e into the mold, the valve GE ci device 31 being thereupon opened to permit ejection oi the steam from the mold and its replacement by the air `and then closed, and the air at 75 lbs. pressure then remains in the mold for l minutes .to effectively set and cool the molded figure ill. The air valve 3K6 is then closed and the outlet valve 42 opened, to release the compressed air from the mold, which may be then opened up. The plastic figure may be then removed from the mold 2 together with i-ts assembled devices l1, 31, and trimmed away from the latter `at annular places 44e, thereby leaving the completely produced human ligure |4 illustrated in Figy.

t will be evident that but portions of the gure llLas down only to its level |4e, Fig. 6, or that between its levels lef., Mig, may be fabricated by a proportionately .constructed mold 2, devices 31, l1, and th-e hereinabove described method and process.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. An apparatus for therewith making a holllow plastic article having the Icombination of a mold for the article adapted to receive therewithin a Itube of plastic material and having an opening for the end of said tube, a device adapted to seal lsaid opening and engage said tube end, a plurality of pipes each passing through said device for extending interiorly in sai-d tube, said pipes extendi-ng exteriorly yoi said mold, each of said exterior pipes having a valve, a compressed fluid line being connected to said pipes, and said pipes having outlets that are located in the regions and directions oi the deep parts of said mold.

2. An apparatus for therewith making a hollow plastic arti-cle having 'the combinati-on of a mold for the article adapted to receive therewithin a tube of plastic material and having an opening for the Vend of said tube, .a device adapted to sea-l said opening and `engage said tube end, a ,plurality of pipes extending from said device in'teriorly in said tube, said pipes extending from said device eXteriorly of siad mold, each of said exterior pipes having a valve, a compressed fluid yline being connected to said pipes, said pipes having outlets that are located in the regions and directions of the deep parts of said mold, said mold having a secondary opening for the opposite end of said tube, a secondary device adapted to seal said secondary opening and engage said opposite end of the tube, said second-ary device having a bore leading into said tube and exteriorlyV of said mold and tube, and a valve for opening and closing said bor-e. T

3. An apparatus for therewith making a hollow plastic article having the combination of a mold `for the article adapted to receive therewithin a tube of plastic material and having an opening for the end of said tube, a device adapted to seal said opening .and engage said tube end, Va plurality of pipes extending from said device interiorly lin sai-d tube, said pipes extending from said device exte'riorly of said mold, each of said Vexterior pipes having a v-alve, a compressed fluid line being connected to said pipes, said pipes having outlets 'that are located in the regions and directions of the deep parts of said mold, means to feed com-pressed air through said line, valves, and pipes into said mold, said mold having a secondary opening f or the .opposite end of said tube, a secondary device adapted to seal said secondary opening and engage said opposite end of the tube, said secondary device having a bore leading into said tube and exteriorly of said mold and tube, and a valve Vfor opening and closing said bore.

' C-I.El\/il5ll\lS SCI-IEUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,003,707` De Witt June 4, 1935 2,401,299 Glavin June 4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 15,868 Great Britain Oct. 7, 1890 

